June 2009 — Increased demand for injectable contraceptives and overburdened health systems have led several countries to explore non-clinic-based mechanisms for providing this method. In an effort to inform future policies and programs, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and FHI 360 convened a Technical Consultation on Expanding Access to Injectable Contraception, held at WHO in Geneva, 15-17 June 2009.
The group of 30 technical and program experts found that community-based provision of progestin-only injectable contraceptives by appropriately trained community health workers is safe, effective and acceptable. They concluded that evidence supports the introduction, continuation and scale-up of community-based provision of progestin-only injectable contraceptives, provided as part of a family planning program offering a range of contraceptive methods.
In 2010, large international medical associations and family planning organizations added their endorsements to this brief: the International Confederation of Midwives, International Council of Nurses, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank.
This document summarizes the results of a literature review conducted to identify research evidence and program experience relevant to the objectives of the Technical Consultation:
- To review systematically the evidence and programmatic experience on interventions designed to expand access to/provision of contraceptive injectables, focusing on non-clinic-based services and programs.
- To reach conclusions on issues: (a) for which evidence is consistent and strong; (b) for which evidence is mixed; and (c) for which evidence is marginal or entirely lacking and, thus requires additional research.
- To document discussions and conclusions of the Consultation, including policy and program implications, and to disseminate these widely.
